(Portland, OR): A team of Wisconsin 4-H Extension colleagues were recognized at the 2015 National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference recognition banquet held in Portland, OR October 25-29th. Bernie O’Rourke, Extension Youth Livestock Specialist, UW-Madison, Alissa Grenawalt, Extension Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison, Debra Ivey, Iowa County 4-H Youth Development Agent, and Pam Hobson Ag/Animal Science Specialist, WI 4-H Youth Development were recognized for winning the Excellence in Animal Science award at the 2015 National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference. This team first was recognized at the state and regional levels before receiving national recognition.

About 1100 4-H youth development professionals from across the nation participated in the Association’s 69th annual conference, “Empowered by Green,” that allowed 4-H/Extension Youth Development Professionals the opportunity to learn innovative, up to date educational information, methods and techniques, exchange ideas, and promote cooperation among all Extension personnel.

Each year, the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) recognizes member(s) for their 4-H/Extension work by presenting awards for outstanding accomplishments in achievement, leadership, service and communication. O’Rourke, Grenawalt, Ivey and Hobson received the Excellence in Animal Science Award during the 2015 Awards and Recognition banquet on Wednesday, October 28th. This award is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company.

The Excellence in Animal Science Award is open to NAE4-HA members who program in youth development with a focus on how to deliver innovative educational programming, research or evaluation in the animal sciences area. The program recognized was the Wisconsin Youth Livestock Program Livestock Learning Webinar Series that was geared toward new and experienced 4-H families.

From January 2014 to May 2014, there were monthly programs that provided a general overview of livestock projects in Wisconsin. The remaining sessions focused on beef, swine, sheep and meat goats. Families could participate at home or at their county UW-Extension office and session speakers were a combination of local 4-H alumni along with state specialists from the Midwest. The program was well received by participants, staff and volunteers and is still being utilized on the Wisconsin Youth Livestock page at: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/youthlivestock/programs/livestock-learning-webinar-series/.

For more information about the Wisconsin Livestock Learning Webinars or to learn more about other programs conducted by UW-Extension with the Wisconsin Youth Livestock programs, contact Bernie O’Rourke, Extension Livestock Specialist, UW-Madison Department of Animals Sciences at borourke2@ansci.wisc.edu or call 608-263-4304. To learn more about animal projects available in 4-H Youth Development in Wisconsin, please contact Pam Hobson at pamela.hobson@ces.uwex.edu or call 608-262-9605.

Pictured L to R:  Deb Ivey, Iowa County 4-H Youth Development Agent, UW-Extension, Bernie O’Rourke, Extension Youth Livestock Specialist, UW-Madison, Alissa Grenawalt, Extension Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison, Pam Hobson, 4-H Youth Specialist, UW-Extension

This article was posted in Uncategorized.